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Sunday, January 11, 2015

A million people have joined a parade of a centuries-old icon of
Jesus Christ in the Philippines capital, during an annual Roman Catholic
procession in Asia's bastion of Christianity.

In fervent displays of devotion, Catholic devotees jammed the streets
of Manila on Friday for a chance to touch the Black Nazarene, a
life-sized statue of Jesus Christ that many believe can deliver
miracles.

Isko Moreno, the vice mayor of Manila, said around a million people
took part at the start of the procession, with many others waiting to
join along a circuitous route.
Men, women and children chanted and twirled white handkerchiefs
during the raucous procession, with some hurling themselves at the
statue.

Gwen Pang, secretary general of the Philippine Red Cross, said
volunteers treated about 600 people for cuts, bruises and dizziness. One
man accompanying the statue reportedly died of a heart attack.The wooden statue of Christ, crowned with thorns, is believed to have
been brought from Mexico to Manila on a galleon in 1606 by Spanish
missionaries.

The ship that carried it caught fire, but the charred statue survived and was named the Black Nazarene.

Some believe the statue's survival from fires, earthquakes and even
intense bombings during World War II is a testament to its mystical
powers.

The procession is expected to last well into the night and will take
at least 15 hours to snake through seven kilometers of streets before
ending at the Quiapo Church, home of the Black Nazarene in central
Manila.

Officials and church leaders expect millions to pour on to the streets when Pope Francis visits on January 15.